Bees are arguably the most important group of pollinators, underpinning the reproduction of approximately 75% of the world’s flowering plants and a third of the food consumed by humans. They rely entirely on flowers for their diet, seeking out nectar for carbohydrates and pollen for protein to power their colonies and rear their young. The best flowers for bees are those that offer a consistent, high-quality supply of these resources across the entire growing season. Understanding how a bee perceives its environment is the first step in creating a habitat that maximizes the attraction of these industrious insects.
The Sensory World of Bee Attraction
A bee’s visual world differs significantly from that of a human, which dictates its strong color preferences. While human vision is based on red, green, and blue light, bee vision centers on ultraviolet (UV) light, blue, and green. This sensitivity means that pure red flowers appear black or dark gray to a bee, making them less appealing unless they also reflect UV light or have other attractive features.
The most appealing colors to bees are typically blues, purples, and yellows, often enhanced by UV patterns invisible to the human eye. These hidden markings, known as nectar guides, act like bullseyes or landing strips, directing the bee precisely to the pollen and nectar sources within the flower’s structure. A flower that looks uniformly yellow to a person might display a striking UV-absorbing center to a bee, guiding its landing for efficient foraging.
Beyond color, the flower’s morphology and scent also play a major role in attracting specific bee species. Open, flat flowers like daisies provide easy landing platforms for generalist foragers, while deep, tubular shapes require longer tongues, favoring certain bumblebees or specialist solitary bees. Floral fragrance also helps bees locate flowers from a distance, particularly in dense vegetation or when visual cues are less distinct.
Best Flowers Grouped by Bee Preference and Season
A continuous supply of forage from early spring to late fall is necessary to support a healthy bee population. The needs of emerging queen bumblebees in spring differ greatly from the requirements of honeybee colonies preparing for winter. Selecting plants based on their bloom time ensures that resources are available across the entire active season.
Early Season Bloomers
Early bloomers are crucial for solitary bees emerging from hibernation and for queen bumblebees searching for resources to start their nests. Plants like Crocus and Snowdrops are often the first sources of pollen and nectar, sometimes pushing through snow to flower. Willows, particularly pussy willow varieties, are exceptionally important, providing catkins rich in both pollen and nectar early in the year. The early protein from these blooms stimulates brood production, giving them a necessary head start.
Generalist Favorites (High Nectar/Pollen)
Flowers that attract a wide variety of bees are often those that offer high yields and accessible structures. Purple and blue flowers are popular, with Lavender, Borage, and Salvia being top choices. Coneflowers (Echinacea) and sunflowers (Helianthus) serve as excellent landing pads with abundant pollen, appealing to many different bee sizes and species throughout the summer months. Herbs like mint and oregano, when allowed to flower, also produce intensely fragrant, nectar-rich blooms that are highly attractive to generalist foragers.
Native Bee Specialists (Shape/Tube Preference)
Many native bee species have co-evolved with specific plants to efficiently forage from them. Long-tongued bees, such as certain bumblebee species, favor deep, tubular flowers like Bee Balm (Monarda) or Lupines, which restrict access to the nectar for other insects. Other native specialists, like the squash bee, are monolectic, meaning they only gather pollen from a single plant type, such as squash and gourds. Milkweed (Asclepias), while a host plant for Monarch butterflies, is also visited by various native bees, and plants like native loosestrife (Lysimachia) attract specialized “oil bees” that collect floral oil instead of nectar.
Late Season Sustainers
As the season winds down, late bloomers provide the final resources for bees to store up before winter. Asters (Symphyotrichum) and Goldenrods (Solidago) are considered the workhorses of late-season forage, blooming profusely through August and September. Sedum varieties and Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium) also provide a final burst of nectar and pollen, which is vital for honeybee colonies to create honey stores. Fall-blooming plants are particularly important for migrating insects and for native bees preparing their nests for the overwintering generation.
Creating a Holistic Pollinator Habitat
Planting attractive flowers is only one part of supporting a healthy bee population; the surrounding environment must also provide shelter and safety.
Shallow water sources are necessary for bees to drink and for cooling their hives. A simple birdbath or dish filled with water and small stones or pebbles creates safe landing spots and prevents drowning. The pebbles allow bees to drink without becoming submerged.
For the 70% of native bees that are solitary and nest in the ground or in hollow stems, nesting and shelter are important. Leaving small, undisturbed patches of bare, well-drained soil in sunny areas provides crucial nesting habitat for ground-nesting species. Leaving some hollow plant stems standing over winter or providing a bee hotel offers shelter for cavity-nesting solitary bees, such as mason and leafcutter bees.
The use of insecticides, particularly systemic chemicals like neonicotinoids, undermines conservation efforts. These pesticides can be absorbed by the plant and contaminate the nectar and pollen, poisoning foraging bees. Avoiding all pesticide use in and around pollinator gardens, especially when flowers are in bloom, is the most effective way to protect bees from toxic exposure.